Dual castanets



E. FLORES DUAL CASTANETS Filed Sept. l5, 1952 July 26, 1955 ATTV,

DUAL 'CASANE'I'S Fiores, Los Angeles, Calif.

2, Serial No. 39%,676

3 cranes. (er. sawing) Appiicataon i5, U5

comprising two parts which are designed to be held by one hand in separated relation by a finger whereby upon relatively moving the parts, portions thereof will be brought together to produce a clacking sound in association with or accompanied by bell sounds,

Another object of the invention. is to provide in a sound producing instrument of the character stated, a pair of elongate members designed to be held in one hand in separated relation by a linger to be brought together to form a clacking sound and wherein one of the members is provided in two hingedly connected parts with bells car- `ied on one of such parts and on the other one of the members, by means of which bell sounds will be produced simultaneously with the production of the rhythmic claciiing sounds.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specilication, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in edge elevation of the units making up the present invention, showing the same held in position for use, by a hand shown in dotted outline.

Figure 2 is a View in elevation of the inner side of one unit.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the inner side of the other unit.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing the reference characters A and B designate the two members 0r units of the present device which are designed to be held in the hand while being used.

The unit A is in the form of an elongate paddle having the handle part ill and the substantially circular head part i2 forming an integral continuation of the handle as illustrated.

At the outer end of the fiat handle part it) there is secured to one face the metal tap 14, of substantially semispherical form, and at the opposite end of the unit the head 12 has secured thereto upon the same face of the paddle as the tap 14, the metal tap 16.

The edge of the head 12 adjacent to the tap 16 is provided with apertures 18 in which are engaged rings 20 and each ring has loosely connected therewith the small bell 22, also of substantially semi-spherical form and arent ce Patented July 2S, lfd-15 E having an eye on the iiat side thereof for the engagement of a ring therewith.

The unit B is also in the form of an elongate paddle of the same dimensions as the unit A and the unit B comprises the handle 24 and the head 26, both of which are fiat as shown. However, in this construction the unit B is transversely divided so that the head 26 is separated from the handle 24 and these separate parts are coupled together for relative movement by the hinge 28, the pivotal axis of which extends transversely of the unit.

At the outer end of the handle 24 there is secured to one flat face thereof the metal tap 30 and the head 26, like the head 12, has secured to a face a similar tap 31. The taps 3d and .31 are on the same side of the paddle unit B as shown and the hinge is also on the side of the unit which carries the taps so that when the units A and B are placed in opposed parallel relation so that the taps 14 and 30 are in opposed relation and the taps 16 and 31 are opposed, the hinge will permit the movement of the head 26 toward the head 12 without relative movement between the handles 10 and 24.

The edge of the head 26 remote from the handle has a number of apertures 32 in each of which is engaged a ring 33 and to each ring is loosely attached a bell 34.

ln the use of the device the two units are held in the hand with the middle finger interposed between them at substantially midway between the ends of the units so that the units can be rocked on the intermediate finger and the taps brought together to create a clacking or tapping sound similar to that produced with bones. By holding the units with the unit B under the thumb, the thumb can be used to move the hinged head 26 independently of the handle 24 and in this manner the timing of the sounds can be varied in a novel manner or the production of the clacking sounds can be made more rapid or varied in timing in accordance with the ingenuity of the player. At the same time bell sounds can be produced as will be readily apparent.

I claim:

l. Dual castanets comprising a pair of dat units, each having an elongated straight upper end portion and a circular lower end portion, a tap iixedly mounted on each of the upper ends of the opposed faces of said straight end portions, and a plurality of freely swingable tap elements spaced about and suspended from the lower edge portion of said circular portions.

2. The dual castanets as defined in claim 1, with the lower end of the straight end portion of one of said units transversely hinged to the upper edge of the circular end portion for lateral swinging motions, and another tap tixedly mounted on the opposed surfaces of the circular portions of both units adjacent the lower edges thereof and in line with the lirst fixed taps.

3. The dual castanets as deiined in claim 1, with the said fixed taps of substantially semi-spherical form and the said tap elements in the form of bells of substantially semi-spherical form, an eye carried centrally of the at side of each of said tap elements, and suspension rings engaged in apertures formed in and about the said edges of the circular end portions and in said eyes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 166,344 Crandall Aug. 3, 1875 237,850 Fisher Feb. 15, 1881 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,826 Great Britain Dec. 29, 1894 

